Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC has issued a Certificate of Return to Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Nigeria's president-elect.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu handed over the certificate to Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima in Abuja today, Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
INEC on Tuesday, 28 February 2023 declared Tinubu the winner of the presidential election held last Saturday.
Opposing voices.
There were oppositions from various quarters during the collation of the presidential elections results with some calling for outright cancellation of the election.
In a post-election message to Nigerians,
former President Olusegun Obasanjo said that the results being called by INEC did not reflect the wishes of the people and blamed it on INEC operational officials who were allegedly compromised to tamper with the BVAS to manually transmit election results and give room for "manipulated" and "doctored " results.
The former president called on President Buhari Muhammadu, to douse tension that was building up across the country by canceling "all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test" and rescheduling them for Saturday, March 4, 2023," with areas where elections were disrupted."
Obasanjo also recommended that BVAS and Server officials be changed while "a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association looks into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday," and identify polling stations or units where manipulations occurred.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Southern and Middle Belt Leaders worry.
Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, SMBLF also expressed its concern that the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections could not be transmitted to the INEC portal, after collation at the various polling units across the country.
SMBLF noted that the actions and inactions of INEC appeared to have undermined promises of free and credible elections made by President Mohammadu Buhari.
In a statement endorsed by SMBLF, leader, Pa Edwin Clark, Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, President, Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, and Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, the group said:
“Suffice it to say that INEC failed to adhere to critical provisions of the amended Electoral Act, with several reports of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, challenging the delay in upholding the results and excuses of server hitches.
“There were also cases of outright voter intimidation in parts of the country, particularly, in Lagos, where people were allegedly prevented from voting, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been silent on the occurrences.
“Most worrisome are the suggestions that the delay in uploading results to the INEC Portal was deliberate; to provide certain person opportunities to alter the election results, with Lagos and Delta states repeatedly cited.
“These situations are unacceptable and should not be allowed. We warn INEC not to tamper with the results; the will of Nigerians as expressed through the votes cast on Saturday, across the country, must be upheld. Let the choice of the people stand, in the interest of peace and stability.
“There were high hopes that INEC would do a good job, unfortunately, it appears that the electoral body was not prepared to conduct credible elections.
“SMBLF cautions the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu not to pour scorn on his hard-earned reputation, due to pressure from desperate politicians. Nigeria is greater than any individual or group.”
No cancellation – Muslim scholars.
However, in a swift reaction, a group of Muslim scholars known as Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria on Tuesday described as "irresponsible and diabolic," the many calls to cancel the presidential election results.
The group at a press conference in Ibadan urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ignore the calls and announce the winner that satisfied the constitutional requirements.
They further appealed to President Buhari to "arrest and prosecute anyone fanning the embers of destabilization of the country."
Leaders of the group, include Sheikh Abdurrasheed Mayaleeke (President General), Prof Olaiya Abideen Olaitan (Secretary General), and Mallam AbdulGaniy Olaide Sahid Ezra (Public Relations Officer).
Continuing, the Concerned Yoruba Moslem Scholars said: “The peaceful conduct of citizens during the election was unprecedented in the history of [our] recent political process.
“We are, however, disturbed at a statement credited to the former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and some political actors calling for the cancellation of the election that INEC has announced winners to the House of Representative [and] the Senate and is getting set to announce the winner of the presidency.
“It is rather unfortunate that such a statement is coming from a supposed statesman and participant in the just concluded election. Could it be because his candidate appears losing at the polls or what?”
“We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the irresponsible and diabolic calls irrespective of the quarters it is coming from.
"We appeal to the INEC to conclude this process of collation of results and announce the winner of the presidential election once the constitutional requirements are satisfied.
“We equally appeal to the President to arrest and prosecute anyone fanning the embers of destabilization of the country as a matter of duty as the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of united and peaceful Nigeria.”
Politics and Opinion.
Kommentare